Mailing Address:
Rotary Club of Kenora
P.O. Box 164
KENORA, ON P9N 3X3
President
Immediate Past President
Past President
Club Secretary
Club Treasurer
Club Membership Chair
Club Service Projects Chair
Club Public Image Chair
Club Rotary Foundation Chair
Club Learning Facilitator
Club Young Leaders Contact
Club Administration
International Service
Recording Secretary
Past President
Harassment Officer
Lobsterfest Update:
Online ticket sales have now closed.
Some tickets may still be available at Safeway or Scotiabank.
Good news, though: the silent auction is now open for bidding.
Before heading to the Dryden Rotary Club some of Kenora's members enjoyed a breakfast at the Travelodge with Warren Thompson
District Governor Warren Thompson helped with the induction of two new Rotarians in Kenora left to right-Jim Retson (inducted new members) Anthony Sharp (new Rotarian) Warren Thompson (District 5550 DG) Cheryl O'Flaherty, (sponsor), Loren Knopf (new Rotarian) Lloyd Mack (sponsor)
Anthony and sponsor Cheryl
Lloyd introducting Loren to the club
DG of District 5550 brings a message of peace to Kenora on The International Day of Peace September 21. The Sunset Country Bell Ringers provided music
Sunset Country Bell Ringers
Lots of moving parts to make each Lobsterfest a success. Here students put together some art as decorations.
Rainbow Auction always does well for the club at Lobsterfest
Potatoes are a big hit for many at Lobsterfest. John uses the Safeway oven to bake the potatoes
Five picnic tables were sold as a fundraiser for the Rotary Playground on Coney Island. Two of the tables are wheel chair accessible. We are now waiting for the plates recognizing the 5 sponsors.
The Northern Credit Union helped support the Rotary Playground on Coney Island project by purchasing a table for $5000. The picnic table will have a plaque with the Northern Credit Union logo along with a message "Proud to support local communities"Credit Union Manager Zoe Roblin (left) with her staff.
The Cameron Clan leave an empty in the coxless four in honour of deceased rower Don Cameron
The Kenora Rowing Club is a member of the North West International Rowing Association (NWIRA). Kenora hosted the two-day NWIRA Championship Regatta August 14 and 15th. Part of the opening ceremonies is a row by with empty seats left in each skul for rowers that passed in the last year.See the Cameron Clan row past minus Don Cameron.
Carolyn Cameron with her grand daughter and daughter beside the Sir Thomas Lipton Cup for rowing
The Lipton Cup is a symbol of dedication and hard work and it is appropriate that the man who presented the Cup to the Association, Sir Thomas Lipton, epitomized these characteristics.
In 1914, Thomas Lipton presented the gleaming silver cup to his friend, Con Riley of Winnipeg, as a means of promoting the sport of rowing in this area. Since then the rowing clubs of the Association have fiercely battled each year for the honor of having their names engraved upon the Lipton Cup.
The Lipton Cup is awarded each year to the club scoring the greatest number of points at the annual NWIRA Championship Regatta.
Rotarian Mark Duggan stands beside the 60 ft Rotary 8 scull. The club supported the Kenora Rowing Club by sponsoring this scull about 25 years ago
Kerry Livingstone inducted into the Rotary Club of Kenora by( left to right) Ron Noseworthy, Kerry Livingstone, sponsor Lois Bailey, president Michael Szajewski
Kerry Livingstone vocational talk on August 10/26
Former Exchange student Emilie Poucet returned to Kenora to show off her family. Shown here is Daniel, Lucien, Jeanne and Emilie at the ribbon cutting for the Rotary Playground on Coney Island.
Fred and Marion Wright hosted a BBQ in honour of Emilie and Family
BBQer extraordinaire feeding the masses
Emilie thanking the club for the kindness that was shown to her family. My exchange 13 years ago was the best year of her life.
Left to right John Dahl, Cathy Devins, Debra LeMaistre , Cheryl O'Flaherty receives a $3500 cheque from Lake of Woods Marina employee Kevin Muise , Lynn Carlson, Lloyd Mack.Owner /Operator Scott Green of The Way Point and Lake of the Woods Marina topped up the Fish Fry on Coney Island by donating most of the profits from the event towards the Rotary Playground on Coney Island
Kenora and Regional Community Foundation presented a $5000 cheque to the Rotary Club of Kenora towards the building of the accessible playground on Coney Island
left to right- Executive Director Lynn McAughey, Mayor Andrew Poirier, Rotarians Lloyd Mack, John Dahl, Gord LeMaistre, Guy Saurette, Debra LeMaistre and Cheryl O'Flaherty
And the winners of the 2026 Lucky Duck Race are....
#954 $1500 Leslie Ross
#481 $500 Eric Lovas (COOT Taxi)
#1370 $400 Alex McEeachern
#427 $300 Kathy Paulson
#1343 $200 Ryan Reynard
#870 $100 Patsy Henley
#13 $100 Chloe Herr
#928 $100 Carol Johnston
#1596 $100 Carol Balogh
#1836 $100 Shai Van Walleghen
#1854 $100 Kaycee Hunt
#640 $100 Gail Pawliuk
#1256 $50 Patrick Hansen
#517 $50 Melanie and Murray McDougald
#1368$50 Bill Reimer
#1351 $50 Tara Rickaby
#151587$50 Dean Jeffrey
#64 $50 Graeme Wasacase
#60 $50 Sarah Danard
#1413 $50 Gil Williams
And the race is on
The finish line
It is anyone's race
The losers are...
Thank you to all ticket purchasers. The money raised is split between The Rotary Club of Kenora and the Special Olympics of Kenora. Money is used to support local projects in the Kenora area.
Members of the Club Service Projects committee presented a cheque for $500 to Irene Kember (third from left) of the Kenora Agriculture Society to support their Fall Fair and assist them in admitting children under 10 for free. The fair is Aug. 27-29 with exhibits, petting zoo, bouncy castles and more! Check it out! Photo, l-r - Ron Malashewski, Jim Retson, Irene Kember, committee chair Kelly Williams, Lloyd Mack and Fred Wright
Special Olympians and Rotarians came out in force to a bbq held on July 17th to honour and recognize Susan LeMay for all her contributions to Special Olympics and Rotary over the years. Tammy W was instrumental in asking Rotary to honour Susan with a plaque at the Rotary Splash Park. A brick was inscribed and place in the walkway for all to see and remember what Susan has done for our comunity over the years
The Rotary Playground on Coney Island is now open. July 17th the fences were taken down and immediately the kids came to use the structures. The Rotary Club of Kenora presented the City of Kenora Mayor Andrew Poirier a cheque for one half of our $66000 commitment. The fish fry proceeds will will go towards the playground
The Fish Fry on Coney Island was a huge success according to all who attended. Some glitches
due to lack of power on Coney but all adapted and enjoyed the evening. Thank you to the many
volunteers that came out in force. Special thanks to Scott Green for donating the majority of the
proceeds towards the Rotary Playground on Coney Island. The cooks were Steve and Russ who
kept the fish coming.
Thank you everyone for attending the Coney Island Fish Fry on Friday July17. A huge success with a large crowd of about 170 supporters enjoying the nice evening, warm fellowship and a great fish dinner.The lucky winner of the 50/50 draw was our own Lloyd Mack. Lloyd's half was $545.00 Thank you all for purchasing tickets
The Teddy Bear Picnic at Pinecrest Home For the Aged was again a success with many family
members and daycare children in attendance.Teddy bears were everywhere, along with face painting
and doctors on call for whatever ailed your bear. Lynn Carlson was happy to donate $300 towards some
of the expenses to Director Theresa Wilson
New president Michael Szajewski gave his vocational talk at July 13th. Mike talked about his experiences as being part of World Curling and Canada Curling organizations. 
The O’Flaherty Family has spent summers on Coney Island since the 1940’s. Pat and Ivy Wismer were the first family residents. After renting a cottage for years, in 1955 Ivy Wismer bought two lots behind the row of camps facing the main beach. A building was purchased, moved from the Geddes resort on the point near the Argyle dock to the interior lot. That was the beginning of decades of summer fun on Coney Island.
Peggy (Wismer) and Kevin O’Flaherty brought their 8 children to the camp on Coney every summer. They spent summers taking swimming lessons and enjoying the freedom living on an island offers. As their children grew to adults, they all purchased their own properties and raised their children on Coney. As a group this generations owns 8 pieces of property in the beach area. Regardless of where any of us lived, we have all felt that Coney Island is our heart home.
Generation number four is continuing the legacy by spending summers on Coney Island with their children.
Generation number five, including 8 so far, who range in age from 26 years to newborn, all love to spend as much time on Coney Island as possible. Through them the legacy will continue.
The O’Flaherty Family are all pleased to be sponsoring a picnic table to enhance the newly upgraded park and to improve the beach experience for residents, visitors to the island and tourists.
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Off the Wall Art Meeting
Keewatin Curling ClubSep. 28, 2026
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. -
Kinsmen, Lions & Rotarians BBQ
Kinsmen Club HouseOct. 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. -
Off the Wall Art Sale
Keewatin Curling ClubOct. 17, 2026
by Debra LeMaistre
This is a PARTIAL List of those who have benefited from donations from the Rotary Club of Kenora:
